Exhibit Opening: Saving the White House? Truman's Extreme Makeover

Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum
Independence, MO

In 1948, President Harry Truman, enjoying a bath on the White House's second floor, almost plunged through the ceiling of the Blue Room into a tea party for the Daughters of the American Revolution. A handpicked team of the country's top architects conducted a secret inspection of the troubled mansion and declared it in imminent danger of collapse. What followed would be the most historically significant and politically complex home-improvement job in U.S. history. America's most famous historic home was basically demolished, giving birth to today's White House.

Now, a new 3,000-sq ft museum exhibition by the Truman Library tells the dramatic story of the controversial $5.7 million, 1,222-day renovation. The show features the work of White House photographer Abbie Rowe, a National Park Service photographer with unprecedented access to The White House and the presidency. His photographs of the Truman renovation - before, during and after - form a unique and invaluable visual record of one of the nation's most important architectural and engineering challenges of the time. Truman Museum visitors also will amazed by never-before-seen White House film footage, along with stunning artifacts from America's first "extreme makeover."

This exhibition has been made possible thanks in part to generous support provided by Title Sponsor JE Dunn Construction Company.

Additional support has been provided by The Powell Family, Brig. Gen. Jack L. Capps, Mary Ellen and James Ascher, the Evans Family, Mary and John Hunkeler, Jeannine Strandjord, Katie and Clyde Wendel, Kay and Roger Novak, Amy and Bob Dunn, Black & Veatch, Merilyn and Loren Berenbom, Kirk Carpenter, Page and Bruce Reed, Daisy and John MacDonald, Thomas Martin Foundation, Barbara and Allen Lefko, Mary and Alan Atterbury, Adam P. Sachs and Julana Harper-Sachs, Beth and David Williams, Janet Napolitano, Ann Heiss, Karen Ball and David Von Drehle, and Dennis Merrill.